Patches of BRIGHT Sun – and COVID Clouds

Spring came a few days early this year, although the sun has been patchy so far. Have hope, though, dandelions are sprouting, adding a bit of colour to our landscape!

The cloud over this spring, though, can’t be ignored. Here at the BRIGHT Run, we share your concerns about the current COVID-19 situation. We hope that you are able to keep yourself and your family members safe in this time when so many of our lives are turned upside down.

Particularly, we thank all those on the frontlines – medical and emergency personnel, workers in essential industries including, but not limited to, grocery stores, pharmacies and other service industries.

And a special shout-out to our friends and colleagues – nurses, doctors, support staff and everyone else – who are working at the Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre.

These are difficult times for all of us – those who are working and those who are not, kids who cannot yet go back to school, parents who are trying to keep them busy, and members of our BRIGHT Run family who continue to undergo treatment.

BRIGHT Run family is in a unique position in the current pandemic. Each of us likely knows someone who has been through chemo – or we’ve been there ourselves – so we understand the importance of proper hand washing, sanitizing and physical distancing. Keep it up. Take care of yourselves and be kind to one another. These are tough times. But we are tougher.

If you need support, we’ll do our best to help. Drop us a line at info@brightrun.ca.

In the meantime, we’ve got some interesting reading for you this month.

Oncologist Mark Levine, our doc with the pink tights, has a unique perspective on COVID-19 for a range of reasons. Find out how he’s feeling these days.

Take a look at this month’s five questions for team captain Victoria O’Connor, who was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 23 years old.

And catch up with BRIGHT volunteer Catharine Bowman and her amazing work in lymphedema research.

BRIGHT Run executive team continues to plan for Sept. 12 at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area. Our community partners are lining up to help, as they do year after year, and our volunteers are working hard on our raffle, penny sale and silent auction in preparation for event day.

We’re working hard to make BRIGHT Run 2020 the best ever!

Take care, BRIGHT folks.